Jacinta Allan must dump Daniel Andrews’ obsessive secrecy, lead with transparency

Premier Jacinta Allan has shown neither the cunning nor the desire to be cute with language like her predecessor but she must now seize the opportunity to show she is serious about transparency.

Any attempt to deride Deborah Glass’s latest investigation as the latest in a series of “nothing to see here” probes would be a mistake.

It may not have proved the allegations made as part of the referral which ignited the near two-year investigation but the 291-page report is much more: it is a warning against the potential for industrial-scale corruption without urgent reform.

It raises critical concerns about the way in which Victoria’s public sector operates, finding it has become overly politicised and lacking in apolitical, independent voices.

It questions recruitment processes for senior positions, and warns about the potential misuse of government funds because of obsessive secrecy around major government initiatives.

These are all further legacy issues left by Daniel Andrews to his successor.

Former Premier Daniel Andrews would likely dismiss the IBAC findings as an ‘educational report’. Picture: David Crosling

Which is why Jacinta Allan should take the concerns seriously and resist the temptation to merely shrug off the report like Andrews most likely would have.

In the two months since stepping into the top job Allan has shown neither the cunning nor the desire to be cute with language in the way that Andrews was.

The smugness with which Victorians became so accustomed is not a feature at Allan’s press conferences like it was at Dan’s.

She is more inclined to delegate responsibility for issues altogether.

Her colleagues say this has already made the government’s work more transparent and strengthened its integrity.

With a legislative agenda in a mess and no money to be able to do much, Ms Allan could do well to quickly adopt the recommendations of Ms Glass.

They are made only to strengthen the integrity of Victoria’s public sector.

Ombudsman Deborah Glass has been scathing of the Andrews Government’s ‘culture of fear’. Picture: David Caird

For too long the integrity of the Andrews government was under a large dark cloud.

When IBAC found “evidence of misconduct and improper influence” at the highest levels of the Andrews government in April, Andrews shrugged off concerns before partying with billionaire Lindsay Fox.

Allan has worked to shake up the way the Andrews office operated.

Just last week she announced an updated Ministerial Code of Conduct to strengthen integrity in government.

Now she has an opportunity to show she is really serious about transparency and integrity in government and the wider public sector.